0:00:03 > 0:00:05Bag snatchers, robberies and street crime.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09More than 3,500 incidents of theft
0:00:09 > 0:00:11are reported every day in the UK.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16But what happens to our belongings when they are stolen?
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Thief Trackers shows how they're taken and where they go.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Excuse me, mate. Excuse me.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Hiding trackers inside items like cameras,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27smartphones and bicycles
0:00:27 > 0:00:29to trace the thieves' every move.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32There he is, there he is, there he is.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34The crooks think they've got away with it,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36but we've got them under surveillance.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I think it was you who took it. No, man.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Using undercover footage, CCTV and tracking technology,
0:00:43 > 0:00:48we'll uncover the unseen journey our belongings take when they're stolen,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51and we'll shine a light on how easy we make it for thieves
0:00:51 > 0:00:53to plunder our prized possessions.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56My van's gone.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Today, the thief trackers are on the trail of a bicycle thief.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11Keep your eyes peeled.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14He's moving around really erratically.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17And discover they are not the only victims of bike crime.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Someone else has fallen foul.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20It's a big lock, as well.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22And using the latest tracking technology,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25one man is on the case of moped snatchers.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27We've got to try and catch him and get him off the street
0:01:27 > 0:01:30and get this bike back as soon as we can.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Plus, trackers are in hot pursuit of van thieves
0:01:33 > 0:01:36and uncover a horde of stolen goods.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Seats, bumpers, everything from stripped Transit vans.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Here on Thief Trackers, we have seen first-hand how vulnerable
0:01:48 > 0:01:50our bicycles are to snatch thieves.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57And how they can be stolen with relative ease, even when locked up.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04Estimates for 2016 suggest one bike was stolen every 90 seconds
0:02:04 > 0:02:10and with 72% of reported cases closed, with no suspect identified,
0:02:10 > 0:02:12the thieves are getting away with it.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17Helping thief trackers with our investigation
0:02:17 > 0:02:21is former Detective Chief Superintendent Sue Hill,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25who has spent over 30 years tackling crime on the streets of the capital.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28A bike can take seconds to be stolen.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Someone will come along, opportunist.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Before you know it, they're on some website being sold
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and you never get your bike back.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40We know that 400,000 bikes a year are stolen
0:02:40 > 0:02:42and yet of those 400,000 bikes,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45only 5% are ever recovered and returned to the owner.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49We bought some bikes like this one here
0:02:49 > 0:02:51and fitted them with GPS trackers.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55If they're stolen, we can track the bike and the criminals.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02On stakeout is the Thief Trackers' undercover team.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05For their safety, you won't see them, but you'll hear their voices...
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Get the tracker out. If we're going to do this, we'll do it now.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11..as they follow the thieves' every move.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20The team set up their stakeout on the edge of a housing estate in
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Cambridge, securing the bike to railings with a heavy-duty bike lock.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27The tracker is live.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Time to watch and wait.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35The bike is in a busy spot, with plenty of people walking past.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38It may be broad daylight, but it's still attracting attention.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41This man checks it out, too.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44This guy's having a nice, long look.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45A little raised eyebrow there.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50A group of lads have a good look.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55But carry on past.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Night starts to fall and under the cover of darkness,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05your bike is more exposed.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Looks like this cyclist has taken an interest.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26This guy's interested and I think he may actually try and take the bike.
0:04:34 > 0:04:35He's clearly up to something.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40He's gone into his bag.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I think he's probably trying to get some tools out.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49After a few minutes, he's found what he was looking for -
0:04:49 > 0:04:52a pair of pliers or cutters.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56OK, so everyone be prepared to move when this happens.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00I think he's going to try and cut it off.
0:05:03 > 0:05:04Yep, he's fiddling with the lock.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07He's definitely looking at it.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12You can just hear the sound of pliers clipping at the cable.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16The guy has been working at it for a little while here,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19at least 40 seconds, possibly longer.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24The lock is giving him a challenge.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25He's determined.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34He sees some people, so he's just casually waiting, I think,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36till they disperse.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41I think he's checking no-one is watching.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Hopefully he's not clocked us.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49A couple of kids, is it?
0:05:49 > 0:05:52I think they're going to pass and he's going to go for it.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57He's determined. He's still trying to cut the lock.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03This is one of the longest thefts of bike I've seen, actually.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07OK, someone else has arrived.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11They've just came from behind our production vehicle.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21He's passed over some tools.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Is this the accomplice now there's getting involved?
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Our clumsy crook acts as lookout,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32passing lock-cutting duties to his friend.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42But the accomplice isn't doing any better.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58The first man tries again.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00They don't seem too worried about hiding what they're up to.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13The lock has beaten them and the two chancers give up.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16More interested in what they're having for tea.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Well, it made me giggle, I have to say, seeing those two people.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43They're more interested in their chips.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47The pliers weren't very good,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49but I'll tell you what they had in abundance,
0:07:49 > 0:07:50stupidity, cos between the two of them,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52they couldn't get that bike off the railings.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57However, they were intent, they wanted to steal that bike.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59With the right lock or a combination of locks,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01your bike will be a lot safer.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05When you do lock up your bike, don't use a flimsy lock.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08If it's an expensive bike, you want to keep that bike.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Lock the wheel and the frame.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13I've just seen a bike that is locked with three locks.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15The chances are, that bike is going nowhere.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22Later on, our undercover team mount another surveillance operation and
0:08:22 > 0:08:26we'll see what happens when a more expert thief gets his hands on our bike.
0:08:34 > 0:08:372016 saw an increase in motorbike ownership.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Around 40% of those new bikes were scooters or mopeds,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45with more and more people taking wheels for their commute to work.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50But these high-value machines make a tempting target for criminals and
0:08:50 > 0:08:54over 1,500 are stolen each month in the capital alone.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58As less than 20% of stolen motorbikes are recovered,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01people are turning to tracking companies like Richard Taylor's,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05who use the latest technology to trace stolen property
0:09:05 > 0:09:06and get it back.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Today, Richard is tracking a scooter stolen in North London.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17This owner uses his scooter in London every single day
0:09:17 > 0:09:21so it's really important he gets his scooter back
0:09:21 > 0:09:23as urgently as possible.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Richard follows the scooter's GPS tracking signal on a map,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30as you would with a car sat nav.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31SATNAV: Turn left on Seven Sisters Road.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37We've got a GPS in N7 area,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40but it's round the back of some flats or round the back of a building,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43so we can't pinpoint it to an exact residence.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46To do that, he uses a radio wave scanner.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51It's like a distress signal,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55and that will help guide us in to where the bike is hidden.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57MACHINE BEEPS
0:09:57 > 0:09:59And this could be it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Yeah, I can hear it. Can you hear it?
0:10:03 > 0:10:07This game of hide and seek with the crooks requires a lot of patience.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10There is a scooter there, but there is no signal coming from that one.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Definitely not the bike.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18The RF signal has gone out of range,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21which means the scooter is on the move again,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24but all is not lost.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The GPS picks up the route and the hunt is back on.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31The tracking data shows the bike heading east through London.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Richard knows time isn't on his side.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38It's not actually good news at this point.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Normally if they're on the move, they're going to be
0:10:40 > 0:10:43possibly stripped down for spare parts and sold.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48Although he is tracking the stolen scooter back and forth across London,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51he knows he has to keep his distance.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Sometimes these stolen scooters are doing 5 or 6mph,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56sometimes these stolen scooters are doing 60mph.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03You can't risk the lives of these lads by chasing them
0:11:03 > 0:11:05or making them do something stupid.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08At the end of the day, we just want to get the scooter back for the customer.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Then Richard gets surprising news from his client.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Unbelievable.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Unbelievable.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23I just had to call the owner of the stolen bike just to let him know we are still on the case
0:11:23 > 0:11:26and he's just told me he believes he's seen his bike
0:11:26 > 0:11:30just go past him in the street with two other scooters.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Um, some nippers, 14, 15 years of age,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36and he tried to just talk to them and they rode off.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40We've got to try and catch 'em and get them off the street and get this
0:11:40 > 0:11:41bike back as soon as we can.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45The tracking data shows the scooter thieves aren't far away,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47and Richard is right behind them.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50I feel like the net is closing.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55We're just picking up the RF now, we're a few hundred yards away.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57It just means we're going in the right direction.
0:11:57 > 0:11:58That should get louder and louder.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04He's led to a housing estate
0:12:05 > 0:12:08and now the radio wave scanner pinpoints the bike.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11The louder the bleeps, the closer they are.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15It's a game of cat and mouse as Richard drives around the estate
0:12:15 > 0:12:17trying to zone in on the scooter.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21And he may have found it.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29It's in an alleyway.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30We don't know who is going to be behind there.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Even though it's daytime, it looks pretty safe and serene
0:12:33 > 0:12:38and no problem, but I'd rather have the police in attendance.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42POLICE: Emergency, which service?
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Police, please. Police, thank you.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47It's not long before reinforcements arrive.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Was it you that called us in? Yes, yes.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I'm Richard, I'm from the tracking company.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56As the scooter is on private property,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59the trackers need the police to gain access and as backup
0:12:59 > 0:13:01in case the thieves are still about.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09Sure enough, the tracker leads them straight to the stolen scooter.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15With a spate of drive-by snatch thefts in London,
0:13:15 > 0:13:20it's possible this scooter has been stolen to use in other crimes.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23The police recover the bike to check it out for prints and DNA.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27We've arranged for a forensic lift of this moped because it's stolen.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29We need to obviously preserve any evidence,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31so things like the handlebars will be swabbed.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35This will be one happy owner who will soon have their scooter back,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37glad they had a tracker installed.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40We've gone right up to the bike,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44identified the bike and after a few hours of being given the runaround,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46we're here on top, so that's great.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Earlier on, we saw the importance of using a heavy-duty bike lock
0:13:55 > 0:13:57to deter would-be bike thieves.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07The Thief Trackers undercover team are mounting another covert operation.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12The team set up this stakeout on the corner of a busy street,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14locking the bike to a lamppost.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17The tracker in the bike is live.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Time to watch and wait.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24This area is a popular site for cyclists to leave their bikes,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27chaining them up to railings and lamp posts.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Even in broad daylight and chained up,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32our bicycles are vulnerable to seasoned crooks.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38This guy is interested.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Was that a call, was that a nod?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Seconds later, this man arrives and checks out the bike.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54He crosses the road and is walking the other way.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00However, he's back again, wandering about,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05and shortly after he comes back across the road toward the bikes.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08He's looking around, acting suspiciously,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10scoping out the various bikes.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34He's not gone for long.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40He's back again and makes a beeline for our bike.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58This time, he succeeds.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01The Thief Trackers spring into action,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03hot on the heels of the bike snatch.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08OK, so as you've just seen, the bike has been taken.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10We're going to try and follow it now.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The bike's GPS signal shows the thief is weaving through
0:16:13 > 0:16:16the back streets, probably in case he's followed.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Keep going down here.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21The team are right behind the thief, but this crook knows the area.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23OK. Yeah. Has he taken a cycle route?
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Possibly. Damn it. OK, let's go back to the main road then.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Yeah. OK, so he's heading towards Haggerston Park.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37The tracking signal now shows the thief taking a meandering route
0:16:37 > 0:16:40through a park close to where he stole the bike.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48The team look for a way closer to the park,
0:16:48 > 0:16:49but are hampered by dead ends.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Get out on foot?
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Or we can go round the other side of the park.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59He's going to go out the park, realistically, isn't he?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Let's try in the park.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03The thief may have the local knowledge,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06but the Thief Trackers can keep right on his tail.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08If we lose him, we'll find him again.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12The team go round the park and try and head off the crook.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21The bike snatcher is taking a zigzag route and hasn't left the area yet.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24He's still a stone's throw from where he stole the bike.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28OK, that's where we started.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44The thief has turned off into a side street.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47The team are closing in and now the tracking signal hasn't moved
0:17:47 > 0:17:48for several minutes.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54All right, let's pull in when we get a second. We'll go on foot.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01They have to keep a sharp lookout.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03The thief could be round the next corner.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Although the signal shows the bike is close by,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14it's nowhere to be seen.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24It's not over yet.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27So the team stakeout the area and wait for the thief to make his move.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33And it's not long before the tracking signal
0:18:33 > 0:18:35kicks into life again.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Having laid low, the thief is now out in the open
0:18:38 > 0:18:40and the undercover team are right behind him.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43We're going to take a left on Cremer Street.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47OK, go up to Geffrye Street.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51As they close in, the tracking signal comes to a stop
0:18:51 > 0:18:53near a railway bridge.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04So at the moment, it says that our bike
0:19:04 > 0:19:06is in here, this sort of area here.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11The team search the area and they have to be realistic about their
0:19:11 > 0:19:13chances of recovering the bike.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15We're looking for a bike, but it might not be around here.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16It may just be the tracker.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20It's now a real possibility that the thief has discovered
0:19:20 > 0:19:23the tracking device and discarded it.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Their hopes are raised as they come across a bike rack...
0:19:26 > 0:19:28It's not locked up, is it?
0:19:28 > 0:19:29..and evidence of another bike theft.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31It's definitely none of these.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37Yep.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39The signal indicates the tracker is here,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41but the bike is nowhere to be seen.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The team have now made their way to an estate,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47which is situated behind the flats that the thief had entered
0:19:47 > 0:19:52just before the bike was stolen, so they know where he might be.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55There's one, two, three, four, five bikes...
0:19:56 > 0:19:58..and not one of them is ours.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00But look how close we are.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01We're seriously close.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06The Thief Trackers make a thorough search of the area,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08looking for the bike or the tracking device.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Down there. You see that?
0:20:15 > 0:20:16Oh, my gosh.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30That's our tracker.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Their search comes to an end.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35The thief has discovered the tracker and dumped it.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38He first took it, he went into this building, possibly to get a tool,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41we're not quite sure yet. I feel like he probably lives in here.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47It makes it so much easier if a thief operates in an area
0:20:47 > 0:20:50known to them because they know where the quick escape routes are,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52they know back alleys, they know how to lose someone
0:20:52 > 0:20:55if they're being followed.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Well, I would suggest that if you have stolen a bike,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00then you've probably got an outlet where you're going to sell it on to,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03and so many bikes never come back and they're probably
0:21:03 > 0:21:06all across Europe and I do believe people are stealing bikes
0:21:06 > 0:21:08to sell on.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09We may not have recovered our bike,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12but we do still have clear footage should the authorities
0:21:12 > 0:21:15wish to take a look at the bike thief in action.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Vans are the workhorse of many small businesses,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27and a record number were registered in 2016,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31pushing the total figure to over four million on the UK's roads.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34But vans aren't just popular with businesses,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37they're also desirable targets for criminals,
0:21:37 > 0:21:42as over 49,000 were stolen in 2016.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45And if they're key to your company, like at this vehicle rental firm
0:21:45 > 0:21:49in the South West, then theft could cripple the business.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53The fleet is around about 1,000 vehicles in total.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Theft of a vehicle from our business
0:21:56 > 0:21:58will affect it dramatically.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00To try and combat this kind of crime,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03they invested in tracking devices,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05which were soon put to the test after a break-in.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09We noticed a vehicle had gone missing when one of my
0:22:09 > 0:22:11work colleagues went to go and move it.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14As the yard was constantly monitored,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16they needed to be sure that it had been stolen.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18We checked our CCTV...
0:22:20 > 0:22:23..and realised that it was driven out of our yard in the early hours
0:22:23 > 0:22:24of the morning.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29The thieves made off with ?8,000 worth of truck
0:22:29 > 0:22:32just after four in the morning, thinking they had a head start
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and that they'd covered their tracks.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37The vehicle itself was fitted with two trackers,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40one of which they found and removed and, luckily,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42they didn't find the second one.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46The crooks made their escape, not realising that even though
0:22:46 > 0:22:49they'd got rid of one tracker, another was still monitoring
0:22:49 > 0:22:51their every move.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53I called the police first thing in the morning and then kept
0:22:53 > 0:22:55them updated during the day to advise them when
0:22:55 > 0:22:58the second tracker was reporting.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00The second tracker, known as a sleeper,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03was activated once the vehicle was reported stolen
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and would give updates on its position at intervals
0:23:06 > 0:23:07during the day.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10The tracker was due to give us an update around about
0:23:10 > 0:23:135.15 in the afternoon,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16so nearly 12 hours after the vehicle went missing.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18This was now an agonising wait for Alex,
0:23:18 > 0:23:23standing by for a location fix on their truck.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I was unsure where the vehicle was going to pop up across the UK,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28whether it was even going to be in the UK.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32I actually thought I would never see the vehicle again.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Thankfully, the tracker sprang into life and the signal showed
0:23:35 > 0:23:39the van was now over 100 miles away in Berkshire.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42When the tracker reported in at 5.15,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45the vehicle was parked stationary in Reading.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Alex decided to call in the tracking company to recover the van
0:23:50 > 0:23:51as soon as possible.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Director Neil Thomas was straight on the case
0:23:55 > 0:23:59and had a theory about its location -
0:23:59 > 0:24:01parked up in a side street out in the open.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07This could be where the thief had dropped it off as a cooling period.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10The cooling-off period is where the vehicle's been stolen
0:24:10 > 0:24:12and taken to a first location.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Leave it there, perhaps overnight or maybe for longer than that,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18to make sure that there's no tracking unit in the vehicle.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20They'll either pay somebody to look out for it,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23to see if the police turn up, or to see if the owner itself,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26the company or the person, turns up to recover the vehicle.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31Closer inspection of the area set off alarm bells.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35It was parked next to the premises that was involved in metalwork.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38It looked as though the vehicle could be taken in
0:24:38 > 0:24:39and maybe stripped.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43If Neil was to recover it in one piece, they had to move quickly.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46My advice to the client was, we need to get there as soon as possible.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49The trackers got the go-ahead to try what they call a snatch back.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Now, a snatch back is where APU go and recover a vehicle for a client,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59usually with a spare key, all times of day or night.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02We liaise with the police, just to make sure they don't think we're
0:25:02 > 0:25:05stealing the car, and we'll turn up and recover the vehicle.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08On the way down to Reading,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11I was told via the Telematic unit the vehicle was back on the move.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14The van was now heading west.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17At this point, I spoke to the office,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20spoke to some colleagues and asked them to track the vehicle,
0:25:20 > 0:25:21live-time tracking.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25We could see where it was on the tracker,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27but we didn't know if it was going to a port,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29whether it was going to be out of the country.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Some vehicles these days are put into containers and taken abroad,
0:25:32 > 0:25:33we've got experience of that.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Or whether it was going to be taken to another site to be stripped,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39so I was very keen to get there as soon as possible,
0:25:39 > 0:25:40safely as possible,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43and to try and liaise with the police on the way down there to say,
0:25:43 > 0:25:44"Can you assist us?"
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Time was tight and the van had now moved off the main roads
0:25:49 > 0:25:51onto back roads into the countryside.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Thanks to the GPS technology,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59the trackers could stay right on the thieves' trail.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Criminals drive on country lanes in stolen cars because they're less
0:26:02 > 0:26:04likely to be caught on any cameras.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07And the quiet roads, they're less likely to see a police officer.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10If they do come across the police, they know the area,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12they can get out and run across the fields.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Very difficult to arrange for police to pursue them on.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20The van had changed direction again and was heading south.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28The next update from the tracker was that it moved probably 30 or 40
0:26:28 > 0:26:30miles away from Reading into the farm
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and this farm premises was quite isolated.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38There was a long driveway and it had parked up in a barn on the farm.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Criminals like to hide stolen vehicles
0:26:41 > 0:26:43in either woodland or barns,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45the sort of place where I know, as an ex-police officer,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47if they're far enough away from the main road,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50they won't get caught by the police
0:26:50 > 0:26:53and also they'll think that the tracking signal will be weak.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54It isn't.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59They had a strong fix on the van's position,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and as it was stationary, it wasn't long before Neil caught up.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07When we got to the barn, the thief had left.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09There was no-one else there.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12The building was owned by a local farmer.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14It was clear that he was an innocent person.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17He'd rented one of his units out.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Once they gained access to the building,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22they struck gold and discovered more than they'd bargained for.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25We were able to go in with the police...
0:27:26 > 0:27:28..and we could see the vehicle in there.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33Around the stolen vehicle itself were lots of parts -
0:27:33 > 0:27:34seats, bumpers,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38everything from stripped transit vans, and there was a lot of
0:27:38 > 0:27:41parts from similar vans that looked as if they'd been
0:27:41 > 0:27:42from stolen vehicles.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46With operations like this, it's always fantastic
0:27:46 > 0:27:48to see the vehicle itself.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49It's OK seeing it on a screen.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53However, it's really good to be able to phone a client up and say,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55"I'm in front of your vehicle.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57"Here's a picture of it, and it's safe."
0:27:57 > 0:28:01That's a win for the trackers and one very happy customer.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04The vehicle is back with us and it's all in one piece
0:28:04 > 0:28:07and currently still being used to this day.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Owen Quine - he's a very famous and good novelist.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45He's gone off before, only this time it's been ten days.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48I'm an investigator. His wife's very worried for him.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52Owen has written a very thinly disguised slandering
0:28:52 > 0:28:54of the people who've tried to help him.
0:28:54 > 0:28:55Quine knew a lot of damaging stuff...
0:28:55 > 0:28:58You're going to have to take on a new investigator.